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HIM Connection

Keep up to date with weekly advice on issues such as coding and reimbursement, medical record documentation, Joint Commission IM standards, and more.

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HIM Connection

Issue 49, December 18, 2007

• Topic: Providers to implement 5010 HIPAA transactions by 2014, NCHICA and WEDI estimate

  Topic: Providers to implement 5010 HIPAA transactions by 2014, NCHICA and WEDI estimate

• Ask the expert: We understand that codes that do not include a present-on-admission (POA) indicator will be returned to us as of next April. Will CMS return claims that include a code for which we report a POA indicator of "U"? Or will CMS only return claims that include a blank POA field?

  Ask the expert: Q: We understand that codes that do not include a present-on-admission (POA...

• Tip of the week: Help staff defeat the ’Joint Commission jitters’

  Tip of the week: Help staff defeat the ’Joint Commission jitters’

• PPV: Healthcare providers encouraged to encrypt data at rest

  PPV: Healthcare providers encouraged to encrypt data at rest

Issue 48, December 11, 2007

• Topic: CMS hires contractor to conduct HIPAA security audits

  Topic: CMS hires contractor to conduct HIPAA security audits

• Ask the expert: An elderly patient with multiple medical problems was admitted to the hospital. The principal diagnosis was an infection of a nephrostomy tube that was complicated by severe sepsis.

  Ask the expert: An elderly patient with multiple medical problems was admitted to the hospital. The...

• Ask the expert: An elderly patient with multiple medical problems was admitted to the hospital. The principal diagnosis was an infection of a nephrostomy tube that was complicated by severe sepsis.

  Ask the expert: An elderly patient with multiple medical problems was admitted to the hospital. The...

• Tip of the week: Consider these helpful hints for organizational redesign

  Tip of the week: Consider these helpful hints for organizational redesign

• PPV: AHIMA’s blueprint for HIM education of the future sparks discussion, fuels debate among current professionals

  PPV: AHIMA’s blueprint for HIM education of the future sparks discussion, fuels debate among...

Issue 47, December 4, 2007

• Topic: Brush up on documentation elements for PC.3.10: Victims of abuse and neglect

  Topic: Brush up on documentation elements for PC.3.10: Victims of abuse and neglect

• Ask the expert: What level of security is necessary to comply with HIPAA when transmitting patient information electronically (i.e., via the Web, through e-mail, etc.)?

  A: It depends on the method used to send the patient information. An organization that transmits...

• Tip of the week: Build your very own EHR dream team for a successful implementation

  Tip of the week: Build your very own EHR dream team for a successful implementation

• PPV: Determine the training method that works well for continuing your coding education

  PPV: Determine the training method that works well for continuing your coding education

Issue 46, November 27, 2007

• Topic: Consider speech recognition to boost your bottom line

  Topic: Consider speech recognition to boost your bottom line

• Ask the expert: Is it appropriate for caregivers, such as nurses and physicians, to use Blackberries to e-mail patient data?

  Ask the expert: Is it appropriate for caregivers, such as nurses and physicians, to use...

• Tip of the week: Consider these seven steps to accurate coding

  Tip of the week: Consider these seven steps to accurate coding

• PPV: Consider these five areas where your EHR implementation efforts could fall short

  PPV: Consider these five areas where your EHR implementation efforts could fall short

Issue 45, November 20, 2007

• Topic: Experts feel 2008 OPPS final rule contains radical changes

  Topic: Experts feel 2008 OPPS final rule contains radical changes

• Ask the expert: Can you provide an example of when a discharge disposition of 09 (i.e., admitted as an inpatient to this hospital) would be relevant?

  Ask the expert: Can you provide an example of when a discharge disposition of 09 (i.e., admitted as...

• Tip of the week: Recognize coders' worth during times of regulatory changes

  Tip of the week: Recognize coders' worth during times of regulatory changes

• PPV: Notice of privacy practices? No problem

  PPV: Notice of privacy practices? No problem

Issue 44, November 13, 2007

• Topic: Consider CCHIT-certified EHR products

  Topic: Consider CCHIT-certifiedsm EHR products

• Ask the expert: We file copies of patients' signed acknowledgments for the notice of privacy practices in their medical records. If patients are readmitted at a later time, is it necessary for them to sign the acknowledgment again?

  Ask the expert: We file copies of patients' signed acknowledgments for the notice of privacy...

• Tip of the week: Check the anesthesiology note for missed CCs/additional diagnoses

  Tip of the week: Check the anesthesiology note for missed CCs/additional diagnoses

• PPV: Welcome the emergence of personal health records

  PPV: Welcome the emergence of personal health records

Issue 43, November 6, 2007

• Topic: Understand common EHR entry authentication terms

  Topic: Understand common EHR entry authentication terms

• Ask the expert: How should we code the following scenario: A patient who has a chronic history of renal insufficiency underwent an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in August.

  Ask the expert: How should we code the following scenario: A patient who has a chronic history of...

• Tip of the week: Celebrate Health Information Technology week with staff

  Tip of the week:  Celebrate Health Information Technology week with staff

• PPV: Make sense of the privacy rights of minors

  PPV: Make sense of the privacy rights of minors

Issue 42, October 30, 2007

• Dear HIM Connection subscriber,

  Dear HIM Connection subscriber,

• Topic: CMS awards contract to AHIMA to perform in-depth ICD-10 impact analysis

  Topic: CMS awards contract to AHIMA to perform in-depth ICD-10 impact analysis

• Ask the expert: A patient presents to our emergency room (ER) because of a drug overdose.

  Ask the expert: A patient presents to our emergency room (ER) because of a drug overdose. The ER...

• Tip of the week: Consider these 10 change management tips when implementing EHRs

  Tip of the week:  Consider these 10 change management tips when implementing EHRs

• PPV: MRB subscribers tell their Joint Commission survey stories: Verbal orders, abbreviations, informed consents points of concern

  PPV: MRB subscribers tell their Joint Commission survey stories: Verbal orders, abbreviations...

Issue 41, October 23, 2007

• Topic: Educate clinical staff to improve your hospital’s reporting of POA indicators

  Topic: Educate clinical staff to improve your hospital’s reporting of POA indicators

• Ask the expert: When a patient is not competent, the patient's representatives cannot be located, and/or there is no current phone number or address for the patient, what notification process meets CMS requirements?

  Ask the expert: When a patient is not competent, the patient's representatives cannot be located...

• Tip of the week: Analyze pre-EHR workflow

  Tip of the week:  Analyze pre-EHR workflow

• PPV: Properly handle an OCR investigation into a patient complaint

  PPV: Properly handle an OCR investigation into a patient complaint

Issue 39, October 9, 2007

• Topic: Provide incentives for accurate coding

  Topic: Provide incentives for accurate coding

• Ask the expert: Is it appropriate to use text messaging on cellular phones to relay patient data between caregivers (e.g., nurse to physician)?

  Ask the expert: Is it appropriate to use text messaging on cellular phones to relay patient data...

• Tip of the week: Adapt your policies to protect all confidential information

  Tip of the week: Adapt your policies to protect all confidential information

• PPV: Computer-assisted coding may be wave of the future

  PPV: Computer-assisted coding may be wave of the future

Issue 38, October 2, 2007

• Topic: Consider using a PDA as a transcription alternative

  Topic: Consider using a PDA as a transcription alternative

• Ask the expert: Q: Do you have any information about a crosswalk between the old DRGs and the new Medicare Severity DRGs (MS-DRG)?

  Ask the expert: Q: Do you have any information about a crosswalk between the old DRGs and the new...

• Tip of the week: Consider revising your productivity rate in light of the POA indicator

  Tip of the week: Consider revising your productivity rate in light of the POA indicator

• PPV: CCHIT creates site for NHIN standards

  PPV: CCHIT creates site for NHIN standards

Issue 37, September 25, 2007

• Topic: CMS releases downloadable NPI file

  CMS has now made both the online NPI registry and the NPPES data dissemination downloadable file...

• Ask the expert: How should we deliver the Important Message from Medicare that went into effect on July 1?

  Ask the expert: How should we deliver the Important Message from Medicare that went into effect on...

• Tip of the week: Know HIPAA limitations, but don't go overboard

  A common problem in hospitals is the tendency for staff members to be overly cautious when patients...

• PPV: Changing seasons means changing times for DRG severity and quality improvement

  The fall season is under way, and change is in the air. For some of us, this means falling leaves...

Issue 36, September 18, 2007

• Topic: Review the new ICD-9-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

  CMS and the National Center for Health Statistics have released the ICD-9-CM Official Guidelines...

• Ask the expert: What does interoperability mean?

  Ask the expert: What does interoperability refer to?

• Tip of the week: Don't be afraid to enforce your HIPAA policies

  In order for you to ensure that your set of policies and procedures is strong, you must be able to...

• PPV: Consider operational aspects of the POA indicator

  The present-on-admission (POA) indicator identifies whether a patient had a certain condition prior...

Issue 35, September 11, 2007

• Topic: Data dissemination underway--Edit information to ensure integrity

  CMS began disclosing National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) data via the Internet on...

• Ask the expert: Will an organization receive a requirement for improvement if a contracted service uses "do not use" abbreviations in its documentation in the medical records?

  Ask the expert: Will an organization receive a requirement for improvement if a contracted service...

• Tip of the week: Incorporate coders into your concurrent documentation improvement program

  The fundamental focus of a concurrent documentation improvement (CDI) program is to work with...

• PPV: CMS adopts one of five proposed quality measures for 2009

  Now is the time for hospitals to refine their data collection, review, and reporting processes as...

Issue 33, August 28, 2007

• Provide comparative data for physicians

  Physicians thrive on data. They analyze and digest it. As with most individuals, they seek their...

• Topic: Provide comparative data for physicians

  Physicians thrive on data. They analyze and digest it. As with most individuals, they seek their...

• Topic: Affect change using workflow process improvement techniques

  Some have suggested that the electronic health record (EHR) is part of the list of quality and...

• Ask the expert: Coding cholangiocarcinoma with obstructed biliary stents

  Q: A physician documented the following secondary diagnosis on an inpatient: Cholangiocarcinoma...

• Ask the expert: What is a Medicare Administrative Contractor?

  What is a Medicare Administrative Contractor?

• Tip of the week: Watch for colors and shading when implementing an EHR

  Two of the biggest hurdles that an organization must tackle along the way to EHR conversion are...

• Tip of the week: Plan ahead for common requests covered by HIPAA

  It's important to make sure that you have procedures in place to deal with routine requests covered...

• PPV: Domestic abuse complicates PHI disclosure rules

  Domestic abuse is a difficult matter with which health-care providers must occasionally contend...

• PPV: Ensure compliance, develop a plan of attack before the recovery audit contractor knocks on your door

  If your hospital doesn't already have a plan for how it will address the recovery audit contractor...

Issue 32, August 21, 2007

• Topic: Understand the definition of and need for health information exchange

  As in any emerging field, health information exchange (HIE) has different meanings to different...

• Ask the expert: Does HIPAA require us to send a disclaimer with all faxes?

  Does HIPAA require us to send a disclaimer with all faxes?

• Tip of the week: Ask pointed questions when designing templates

  Using documentation templates can work for or against you, depending on how you write them and how...

• PPV: Workflow assessment helps one facility implement document imaging

  Trying to document HIM workflow is like trying to capture your morning routine on paper. Much of it...

Issue 31, August 14, 2007

• Topic: Use 'what's in it for me?' approach to convey importance of medical necessity to physicians

  Some physicians are of the opinion that whatever they write on a patient's record or order for...

• Ask the expert: How often should we retrain our work force per the HIPAA privacy and security rules?

  How often should we retrain our work force per the HIPAA privacy and security rules?  

• Tip of the week: Size up your forms before implementing an electronic document management system

  By now you know that you must barcode all patient forms for scanning. But don't forget that before...

• PPV: Manage subpoenas with a clear legal record definition

  As providers replace traditional paper records with EDMS, many privacy officials are consulting...

Issue 30, August 7, 2007

• Topic: Understand the benefits of ICD-10-PCS

  For eternal optimists, the saying goes something like this: "the possibilities are endless." But...

• PPV: Don't neglect HIPAA when renovating or rearranging

  Healthcare organizations considering renovating or adding new facilities should think about HIPAA...

• Ask the expert: The use prohibited abbreviations in non-order medication-related documentation

  Q: Why can't we use prohibited abbreviations in non-order medication-related documentation, such as...

• Tip of the week: Take note of certain ICD-9 code revisions for 2008

  CMS made the most revisions to oncology codes. It introduced 54 new codes, in particular, for...

Issue 29, July 30, 2007

• Topic: Proposed OPPS rule digs deep into wholesale packaging

  The outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) has seen its fair share of changes every year...

• Ask the expert: How do I correctly report codes 33202 and 33213?

  Q: A patient presents to the cardiologist for an initial insertion of a dual chamber pacemaker...

• Tip of the week: Consider technology shortcomings, ethical issues for EHRs

  Although computers and software are fantastic tools, they aren't foolproof. The people who operate...

• PPV: Spread the word about NPI data dissemination

  For those who have been waiting for CMS' plan for National Provider Identifier (NPI) data...

Issue 28, July 23, 2007

• Topic: Think big picture, understand terminology when implementing your EHR

  The core technical process of implementing an EHR is the task of the "system build" and related...

• ICD-9 code for postpartum cardiomyopathy

  Ask the expert: What is the appropriate ICD-9-CM code for postpartum cardiomyopathy in a patient...

• Tip of the week: Make the proposed revised CC list more manageable for coders

  Consider the following suggestions for making the revised complication/comorbidity (CC) list more...

• PPV: Comply with HIPAA to comply with The Joint Commission

  When it seems impossible to get your organization to constantly comply with various rules and...

Issue 27, July 16, 2007

• Topic: Spotlight the HIM department by joining denials management team

  If you're not already part of the denial-management team, consider joining. Why? The HIM director...

• Ask the expert: Is this scenario a HIPAA violation?

  Ask the expert: Is it a HIPAA violation to release information to a bus driver's school regarding...

• Tip of the week: Prepare for POA implementation

  One way to prepare for the present-on-admission (POA) indicator is to contact hospitals in states...

• PPV: Audit postacute transfers to ensure proper payment

  CMS has edits in place to alert your facility when it inappropriately receives the full DRG payment...

Issue 26, July 9, 2007

• Topic: Follow these steps when researching an ICD-9 coding question

  When researching an ICD-9 coding question, ensure that coders follow these steps to maintain...

• Ask the expert: Can we report CPT code 90772 with a J code?

  Q: Can we report CPT code 90772 with a J code? (e.g., J0881 [injection, darbepoetin alfa, 1 mcg...

• Tip of the week: Contact payers when designing your contingency plan

  When CMS announced that it would not enforce the May 23 deadline for NPI implementation, many...

• PPV: One facility starts its own documentation improvement process

  It was 1999 and long before DRGs and quality measures became healthcare buzzwords nationwide. It...

Issue 25, June 26, 2007

• Topic: Consider using an exam before hiring coders

  Requiring candidates to complete a coding exam before hiring them could help you weed out the...

• Topic: Reduce delinquent records

  Processing reports in a timely manner is compromised when an organization lacks a commitment to...

• Ask the expert: What does Six Sigma refer to?

  A: Six Sigma is a structured way of thinking of any process--such as coding a medical record or...

• Ask the expert: Privacy notices and newborns

  Ask the expert: When a mother signs a privacy notice, does this cover the newborn as well?

• Tip of the week: Prepare now for the present-on-admission indicator

  Preparing your HIM staff for potential changes is one way to start off on the right foot. Consider...

• Tip of the week: Ensure that your staff is properly reporting modifier -59

  Do not use modifier -59 and other National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI)-associated modifiers to...

• PPV: Is your staff using the UB-04 properly?

  The new UB-04 billing form replaced the veteran UB-92 in May and now hospital billing/coding staff...

• PPV: HIM directors up the ante

  Although HIM director salaries haven't risen significantly during the past year, the number of...

Issue 24, June 18, 2007

• Topic: Understand information workflow when implementing EHR forms

  Vendors often allow hospitals to customize electronic health records (EHRs) that allow patient data...

• Ask the expert: What is the DRG for preterm labor?

  Q: Preterm labor seems to be going to DRG 379 (theraputic abortion) and not preterm labor (such as...

• Tip of the week: Obtain management support for improving record timeliness

  The Joint Commission standard IM.6.10 states that hospitals must have a complete and accurate...

• Tip of the week: Obtain management support to improve record timeliness

  The Joint Commission standard IM.6.10 states that hospitals must have a complete and accurate...

• PPV: Manage subpoenas and requests with a clear legal record definition

  As providers replace traditional paper records with electronic document management systems (EDMS...

Issue 23, June 11, 2007

• Topic: Have a plan in place to prevent water damage to your medical records

  Floods, water sprinkler damage (following a fire or smoke incident), and roof/plumbing leaks are...

• Ask the expert: Reporting subsequent hydration and initial therapeutic injection

  Ask the expert: How should we report subsequent hydration after an initial therapeutic injection?

• Tip of the week: Alternatives for recharging battery-powered portable computers

  Tip of the week: Consider alternatives when recharging battery-powered portable computers

• PPV: Privacy role expanding beyond HIPAA privacy

  The role of the privacy officer has evolved over the past four years, according to an April report...

Issue 22, June 5, 2007

• Topic: Create a tracer team to prepare for unannounced surveys

  A good strategy for departmental training to prepare for an unannounced survey is to create a...

• Ask the expert: SDA versus NLP

  Ask the expert: Can you explain the difference between structured data input and natural language...

• Tip of the week: Think outside the box when providing HIPAA training

  It isn't news that many physicians are busy and uninterested in HIPAA-which can make training them...

• PPV: Watch for new OPPS and operational/financial impact of TRICARE

  TRICARE (formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services, or...

Issue 21, May 28, 2007

• Topic: Consider these methods to achieve record completion

  Organizations have used several methods to achieve record completion while patients are in-house...

• Ask the expert: What services contribute to the cost of ED visit levels APCs?

  Ask the expert: Can you explain, and also provide examples of, the types of services that...

• Tip of the week: Don't base your ROI production rate on other facilities

  Working with a hybrid record is new, and it's hard to know how many charts you should expect...

• PPV: OIG audits focus on security rule

  The Office of Inspector General (OIG) says it is in the process of conducting HIPAA audits of...

Issue 20, May 21, 2007

• Topic: Untangle HIPAA rules surrounding minors' privacy rights

  In general, when dealing with unemancipated minors, the privacy rule requires their parents' or...

• Ask the expert: How can facilities prepare for the recovery audit contractor?

  Q: CMS has announced that the recovery audit contractor (RAC) program will expand nationwide in two...

• Tip of the week: Be aware of medical identity theft

  Because the electronic healthcare environment lends itself to privacy breaches, it is important to...

• PPV: CMS proposes to switch to MS-DRGs in 2008

  In its proposed rule updating the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for fiscal...

Issue 19, May 15, 2007

• Topic: Establish a policy that addresses how and when to use query forms

  Last week, HIM Connection brought you ways to improve your documentation simply by using effective...

• Ask the expert: Hybrid records vs. document imaging

  Q: I'm confused about the difference between hybrid records and document imaging. It seems that...

• Tip of the week: Conduct regular physical security checks

  The security rule has led many healthcare providers to upgrade antivirus software, properly set up...

• PPV: RAC program set to go national by 2010

  CMS has announced that the recovery audit contractor (RAC) program will expand nationwide in two...

Issue 18, May 8, 2007

• Topic: Improve coding quality

  Improve your documentation simply by using effective queries or by initiating a comprehensive...

• Can we use V58.67 for an ED patient who is diabetic and regularly takes Humulin?

  Presumably, yes, based on the fact that the patient's treatment regimen is to receive Humulin to...

• Tip of the week: Help prepare for an unannounced survey

  Even though, under ideal conditions, organizations should be prepared for a Joint Commission survey...

• PPV: Medical identity theft raises new questions for EHRs

  In the electronic world, medical identity theft--including theft involving insurance...

Issue 17, May 1, 2007

• Topic: Tips for new HIM directors

  The role of the health information manager has changed over the years. No longer is the health...

• Can you explain the services that contribute to the cost of ED visit level APCs?

  There are several types of costs that contribute to the resources used during an ED visit but are...

• Improve efficiency in scheduling in an Ambulatory Surgery Center

  Follow these steps to improve your time management skills.

• CHW to improve quality, scorecards, and more with documentation improvement

  Hospitals today receive grades or scorecards based on the quality of care they provide and publicly...

Issue 16, April 24, 2007

• Topic: Get more out of your employees with these four methods

  Last week, HIM Connection introduced you to four methods to help you identify redundant efforts and...

• If a patient comes in with chest pain and has CAD, which would you code?

  If the patient presented with chest pain and the physician did not document a cause (e.g...

• Tip of the week: Motivate employees with small gestures

  Look for ways to enhance the work experience for both surgeons and staff at your facility. Even...

• PPV: How to revive a stuck or failed EHR project

  Often, EHR projects don't live up to a facility's expectations. Sometimes, plans stall. Other...

Issue 15, April 17, 2007

• Topic: Improve service with an assessment of your resources and activities

  One of the greatest challenges facing today's health-information leaders is finding enough time to...

• Ask the expert: How do we conduct an audit of our urgent/wound care centers?

  As you know, wound care is one of the Office of Inspector General's favorite topics, having been on...

• Tip of the week: Avoid these ongoing compliance problems in your facility

  More than three years after the privacy rule's compliance date, there are still persistent...

• PPV: Continuous assessments ensure success with security

  Many covered entities (CE) performed a risk analysis as part of their initial efforts to comply...

Issue 14, April 10, 2007

• Topic: Monitor timeliness of records completion

  Medical record completion was a problem well before The Joint Commission existed. In 1919, when the...

• Tip of the week: Don't underestimate the power of solid training

  Training your staff to use a new EHR system can be one of the most difficult parts of making the...

• Ask the expert: Should employees be able to access their own electronic records?

  Employees have the right to access their own records as any patient would. The real question is...

• PPV: Pay attention to details when documenting diabetes

  We are learning that our documentation in the medical record in the office, nursing home, and...

Issue 12, March 27, 2007

• Refine the terms: Understand unbilled accounts and DNFB

  Chief financial officers (CFOs) seek to achieve timely billing and collection of the payments for...

• Topic: Provide coders with the tools they need to do the job

  Patients admitted to hospitals today are sicker and require more testing, the results of which must...

• Tip of the week: Develop a plan now for NPI exchange

  When the national provider identifier (NPI) final rule discusses making NPIs available to health...

• What is the recommendation for allowing access to an electronic health record?

  Before allowing access to an EHR via Web interface, it is important to reasonably ensure that the...

• Is it acceptable to openly display notes/cards from grateful patients?

  Let's keep in the mind the patient's reason for writing the thank-you note. His or her intention...

• Take a closer look at your organization's amendment policy.

  An amendment is typically the correction of a finalized entry in a medical record that has been...

• PPV: Five steps to recruit a new specialist and ensure a good match

  Looking to expand the mix of services at your ASC to absorb the impact of the significant...

• PPV: Prepare for new federal rules on record retention

  Dust off that old record-retention policy. The U.S. Supreme Court recently made changes to the...

Issue 11, March 20, 2007

• Five more tips to capture the present-on-admission indicator

  Last week, HIM Connection brought you five tips to help your coders capture the...

• Tip of the week: Evaluate physician willingness with a survey

  The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) St. Margaret Memorial Hospital implemented an...

• Can I charge for a separate E/M visit when a physician performs a debridement?

  Generally, when a patient returns to an outpatient clinic for a scheduled debridement, the clinic...

• PPV: Organizations look to existing work force to take on CDI efforts

  Despite the expense, half of the organizations surveyed in late 2006 report that they have...

Issue 10, March 13, 2007

• PPV: Watch out for EMR-related coding pitfalls

  There's a new trend in coding--and it's a dangerous one. Physicians are using electronic medical...

• Topic: CMS moves mandatory NPI use deadline to January 1, 2008

  Topic: CMS moves mandatory NPI use deadline to January 1, 2008

• Establish a process for employees to access their own medical records

  Employees have the right to access their own records as any patient would. The real question is...

• Ask the expert: How should healthcare providers secure archived patient records containing PHI?

  Ask the expert: How should healthcare providers secure archived patient records containing PHI?

• What special safeguards should we put in place when disclosing offshore?

  The privacy rule requires that you have a BA agreement (BAA) with outside companies to which you...

• Tip of the week: Conquer POA implementation with teamwork

  Tip of the week: Conquer POA implementation with teamwork

• Five tips to help capture the present-on-admission indicator

  If you're wondering how your coders are going to capture the present-on-admission (POA) indicator...

• PPV: Tips to help tackle MS-DRG challenges, new CC system

  PPV: Tips to help tackle MS-DRG challenges, new CC system

Issue 9, March 6, 2007

• Four tips for new coder education

  In addition to ensuring that coders new to your department have the right skills, you have to make...

• Find creative ways to boost morale

  You can only give the same PowerPoint presentation so many times. With all of the training staff...

• Does HIPAA prohibit us from asking for a patient's SSN?

  The privacy rule does not prohibit you from using the SSN as a patient identifier, but some state...

Issue 2, February 6, 2007

• Revisit disaster recovery now to avoid future problems

  The security rule requires that you develop a disaster recovery plan to protect and recover systems...

Issue 1, January 2, 2007

• Establish a policy that addresses security incidents

  Section 164.308 (6) of the security rule requires your organization to establish policies and...

• How to outsource transcription overflow

  Transcription timeliness and quality encourage physicians to dictate more. The transcribed document...

• Set up metrics to evaluate your security programs.

  The good news-you have a robust security program in place that is well-supported by management...

• How to test the effectiveness of your EHR system

  Electronic health records (EHR) testing is difficult and has high stakes. This testing must...

• Triggered reviews in HIPAA privacy & security rule compliance assurance programs

  At the core of your privacy and security compliance assurance program is the process by which you...